(Seychelles News Agency) - All infrastructure work on Seychelles’ Ile Soleil – a manmade island in the eastern Mahe district of Anse Aux Pins, has been completed -- said a top government official.

Construction work on infrastructure at Ile Soleil started in July 2007 and included provisions for water, electricity, roads, pavement and drains among others.

The chair of the 2020 Development Company, Barry Faure, said last week that development on the island of 123,000 square metres of reclaimed land has reached an advanced stage, and work on a bridge connecting it to the mainland will start this week.

“This project was on hold for some time as we had to consult with residents at Anse Aux Pins, who were asking for a harbour to provide safe berthing for their fishing vessels,” said Faure.

Development works were done by the United Concrete Products Seychelles (UCPS) and Faure said that “UCPS is carrying out their final underground work to install electrical cab that will be connected to homes and businesses.” This is expected to be completed by the end of July.

Financing for the infrastructure works came from the money paid by the buyers of the different plots of land.

Fifty-two plots of land on Ile Soleil were sold for construction of simplex houses for single families, duplexes for two families, condominiums and commercial purposes.

Layout of the 52 plots which have been sold except for a large one with a market value of $368,300 million. (2020 Development Seychelles Ltd) Photo License: CC-BY

Faure said the only plot of land left for sale is a large one with a market value of $368,300 million (SCR 5 million).

“There are some people, who had shown interest in purchasing the land and it will go to the one who best fit the criteria,” said Faure.

This particular phase of development on Ile Soleil was opened to both Seychellois and international investors.

Faure explained that priority was given to Anse-Aux-Pins residents for the simplex and duplex plots.

The chair of the 2020 Development Company said another bridge will be built on the northern side of the island.

“The bridge was not part of the initial plan but rather a request from the Ministry of Health, as an alternative route in case of any emergency,” said Faure.

The island is a little village on its own and will contain a hospital, hotel, school, shops, and residential houses.

The company has given both public and private entities until mid-2018 to start their construction so that there is no noise pollution by the time residents start to move in. Once completed, the island will have a population of around 1,000 inhabitants.

Faure said that there has been high interest both from foreigners and locals to buy a plot of land. “As a result of this, we are going to identify other places where we can build a project of this sort.”

The company is also promoting sustainable development on the island by encouraging energy saving technologies such as LED lighting and cost cutting measures such as the recycling of water from the sewage treatment to water plants and keeping the gardens green.